Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

An improved exercise device is used for a variety of exercises. In one embodiment, the exercise device has an upper portion having a contact surface. The contact surface has a partially hemispherical shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and morespecifically to exercise devices with a partially hemispherical shape.

With the continued interest in personal health and fitness, there is anincreased interest in improved methods and devices for conventionalexercises. For instance, push-ups have typically been carried outwithout exercise devices. However, drawbacks to the conventionalpush-ups include a limited range of motion as well as other drawbacks.For example, some conventional exercise devices make it difficult tohave a full range of motion when performing a push-up while maintainingproper form.

Devices have been developed to overcome such drawbacks to theconventional push-up. Such devices may improve the range of motionavailable for the push-up. Drawbacks to such developed devices includeincreased force and strain on the wrists, hands and fingers of the user.Such increased force may cause pain and/or injury. In addition, otherdevices may also have limited stability which can also increase the riskof pain and/or injury.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved exercise device. Furtherneeds include an improved exercise device that allows performance ofexercises with increased range of motion. Additional needs include animproved exercise device that reduces strain and force (e.g., pressure)on the hands and fingers of a user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by anexercise device. The exercise device has an upper portion having acontact surface. The contact surface has a partially hemisphericalshape.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as abasis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise devicewith a partially hemispherical upper portion;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of theexercise device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of an exercise deviceshowing the bottom side;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the exercisedevice showing the bottom side;

FIG. 5 illustrates a person using an embodiment of an exercise device;

FIG. 6 illustrates another view of a person using an embodiment of anexercise device;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of anexercise device having a hollow interior; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise device inwhich the contact portion has the bottom side;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of anexercise device having a hollow device interior;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of anexercise device with a contact surface;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of anexercise device having an outwardly protruding contact surface;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an exercise device having arotation base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of exercise device 5 having base 15 andupper portion 70, with upper portion 70 having contact surface 10. Insuch an embodiment, upper portion 70 and contact surface 10 have apartially hemispherical shape. Upper portion 70 and contact surface 10may have a shape of any portion of a hemisphere. For instance, withoutlimitation, the partially hemispherical shape may be more or less thanhalf of a hemisphere. In embodiments as shown, the partiallyhemispherical shape is a semi-sphere. It is to be understood that asemi-sphere is about half a sphere. Without limitation, the partiallyhemispherical shape of contact surface 10 may allow a comfortable andstable leverage point. In embodiments, the base 15 may be integral withthe upper portion 70. Exercise device 5 may be used for any of a varietyof exercises such as muscle building and stretching movements. Examplesof muscle building exercises include push-ups, tricep bends, dips,straight aim planks, straight arm side planks, mountain climbers, andthe like. Device 5, through increased range of motion comfort andstability, allows for a variety of modifications to the traditionalpushup including triangle pushups, handstand pushups, and others. Forstretching one can use device 5 as an object of stability and leanagainst it with hands or feet. Additional exercises such as squats,lunges, and calf stretches, for example, may be performed if theexercise device 5 is used to support a user's feet.

Exercise device 5 may be composed of any material suitable for exercise.In an embodiment, contact surface 10 is composed of a different materialthan base 15 and/or body 80 of upper portion 70. In embodiments, contactsurface 10 has a softer material than base 15 and/or body 80. In suchembodiments, contact surface 10 may be elastically deformable (i.e., mayundergo elastic deformation), and base 15 and/or body 80 may besubstantially rigid. As used herein, the contact surface 10 may beconsidered to be substantially rigid if it is unable to bend or beforced out of shape under standard exercise conditions, such as duringperformance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. As used herein, thecontact surface 10 may be considered to be elastically deformable if itundergoes elastic deformation under standard exercise conditions, suchas during performance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. In embodiments,contact surface 10 comprises any elastically deformable materialssuitable for use with exercise device 5. Contact surface 10 may becomposed of leather, cloth (i.e., cotton, synthetic material, and thelike), foam, urethane, rubber, or any combinations thereof. Base 15and/or body 80 may be composed of rubber, plastic, wood, metal, glass,ceramic, urethane, foam, or any combinations thereof.

FIG. 11 shows a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of exercisedevice 5 in which contact surface 10 is composed of different materialthan body 80. In some embodiments, contact surface 10 and body 80 arecomposed of the same materials. Contact surface 10 covers all or aportion of body 80. In embodiments, contact surface 10 is attached tobody 80. Contact surface 10 may be attached to body 80 by any suitablemethod. In some embodiments, contact surface 10 has a textured surface(i.e., textured surface features). Without limitation, the texturedsurface features hinder the slipping of a person's hands or feet. Anytextured surface features may be used that are suitable for use withexercise device 5. In embodiments, the textured surface features includedimples, protrusions, adhesives, or any combinations thereof.

Exercise device 5 may have any height suitable for the desired exercise.In embodiments, the height is from about 4 inches to about 8 inches,alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternativelyabout 6 inches. Without limitation, the height may provide a largerrange of motion to a person e.g., for push-ups or tricep bends, dips,etc.) while allowing for maintenance of better form. Additionally,exercise device 5 may be placed in any width suitable for the desiredexercise. In embodiments, the width at a widest point is from about 4inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. For example, the base 15 mayhave a width of about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively fromabout 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches.

In embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, exercise device 5 hasbottom side 20. In embodiments, bottom side 20 is on the opposing sideof exercise device 5 from contact surface 10. FIG. 3 illustrates abottom view of exercise device 5 showing bottom side 20, and FIG. 4shows a perspective view of exercise device 5 having bottom side 20. Inembodiments as shown, bottom side 20 is substantially flat. Withoutlimitation, bottom side 20 is substantially flat to provide a stablecontact surface with flooring and the like. As shown by FIGS. 3 and 4,bottom side 20 may be generally circular shape. Bottom side 20 is notlimited to a generally circular shape but in alternative embodiments(not illustrated) may have any shape suitable for use with exercisedevice 5, such as elliptical, for example. In some embodiments, bottomside 20 has a friction increasing substantially flat surface. Withoutlimitation, such a friction increasing substantially flat surface mayfacilitate movement of exercise device 5 along the flooring or the likewhen in use. Any method of increased friction suitable with an exercisedevice may be used such as, without limitation, ridges, adhesives,suction devices, and the like. The substantially flat bottom side 20provides a stable contact with the flooring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, base 15 has a substantially cylindricalshape. Base 15 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape butin alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may have any shape suitablefor use with exercise device 5.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of a person 30 using exercisedevice 5. As shown, person's hands 35 are disposed on contact surface 10with fingers 40 of person 30 also disposed on contact surface 10.Without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape of contact surface10 may allow person's 30 body weight to be distributed throughout hands35, which may facilitate avoidance of a concentrated weight load on aportion of hand 35. Further, the partially hemispherical shape allowsfor hands 35 to be positioned in a variety of locations on contactsurface 10, for example, to increase use comfort and minimize wriststrain. FIGS. 5 and 6 show two exercise devices 5 being used butembodiments include any desired number of exercise devices 5 may beused. For instance, alternative embodiments (not illustrated) mayinclude only one exercise device 5 being used with one hand 30 or fourexercise devices 5 being used, one exercise device 5 for each foot 75.In some embodiments (not illustrated), exercise device 5 may be usedwith one or two feet of person 30 and without hands 35. For instance,person 30 may stand with one foot 75 on an exercise device 5 or witheach foot 75 on a different exercise device 5. Person 30 may then doexercises such as squats, lunges, calf stretches, and the like. Theshape of the contact surface and overall rigid stricture can addincrease balance and stability to the exercise.

Exercise device 5 may have a solid interior or may have a hollowinterior. FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of anembodiment of exercise device 5 in which base 15 has a hollow interior45. Hollow interior 45 may comprise any portion of the interior of base15 and may have any configuration that is suitable for exercise device5. In embodiments as shown, hollow interior 45 has a configuration inwhich interior sides 50 are about perpendicular to bottom side 20.

It is to be understood that exercise device 5 is not limited toembodiments comprising base 15. For instance in an embodiment as shownin FIG. 8, exercise device 5 includes upper portion 70 with contactsurface 10 but without base 15. In such an embodiment, contact surface10 has bottom side 20. In such an embodiment, the interior of exercisedevice 5 may be hollow or solid.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment ofexercise device 5 in which exercise device 5 has device interior 55. Asshown, device interior 55 provides exercise device 5 with a hollowinterior. In such an embodiment, device interior 55 is an open sectionof exercise device 5 that is disposed in a portion of both upper portion70 and base 15.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 inwhich contact surface 10 covers a portion of upper portion 70. Inembodiments as shown, contact surface 10 has an exterior that is inabout the same plane with a portion or all of the exterior of upperportion 70 on which contact surface 10 is not disposed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 inwhich contact surface 10 extends outward beyond a plane in which aportion or all of the exterior of upper portion 70 is disposed.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5having rotation base 60. In such an embodiment, rotation base 60 hasbottom side 20. Rotation base 60 allows device body 65 to rotateradially. Device body 65 includes upper portion 70 and base 15. Inalternative embodiments (not illustrated) in which exercise device 5does not include base 15, device body 65 includes upper portion 70 thatrotates. In embodiments as shown in FIG. 12, device body 65 rotates inrelation to rotation base 60, which remains stationary. In alternativeembodiments, a portion of rotation base 60 rotates. In embodiments,device body 65 rotates about a center point 25 of rotation base 60.Rotation base 60 may allow for rotation of device body 65 by anysuitable means such as by ball bearings and the like.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Althoughindividual embodiments are discussed, the invention covers allcombinations of all those embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise device, comprising: an upper portioncomprising a contact surface, wherein the contact surface comprises apartially hemispherical shape.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1,wherein the partially hemispherical shape comprises a semi-sphericalshape.
 3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface iselastically deformable.
 4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein thecontact surface comprises leather, cloth, foam, rubber, or anycombinations thereof.
 5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein thecontact surface comprises a textured surface.
 6. The exercise device ofclaim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises a body, and wherein thebody is substantially rigid.
 7. The exercise device of claim 1, whereinthe exercise device has a height from about 4 inches to about 8 inchesand a width at a widest point from about 4 inches to about 8 inches. 8.The exercise of device of claim 1, further comprising a bottom side. 9.The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom side is disposed onan opposing side of the exercise device from the contact surface. 10.The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom side is substantiallyflat.
 11. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom sidecomprises a friction increasing substantially flat surface.
 12. Theexercise device of claim 1, further comprising a base.
 13. The exercisedevice of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a substantiallycylindrical shape.
 14. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the basecomprises a hollow interior.
 15. The exercise device of claim 12,wherein the exercise device comprises a device interior, and wherein thedevice interior comprises an open section, further wherein the opensection is disposed in a portion of the upper portion and a portion ofthe base.
 16. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercisedevice comprises a solid interior.
 17. The exercise device of claim 1,wherein the contact surface has an exterior that is in about a sameplane with a portion or all of an exterior of the upper portion on whichthe contact surface is not disposed.
 18. The exercise device of claim 1,wherein the contact surface extends outward beyond a plane in which aportion or all of an exterior of the upper portion is disposed.
 19. Theexercise device of claim 1, further comprising a rotation base.
 20. Theexercise device of claim 19, wherein the upper portion rotates inrelation to the rotation base.